Abstract: Methods and apparatus which enable the lateral displacement of windows and window elements in reaction to overpressure forces resulting from an explosion are disclosed. According to the present invention, these forces are released to the edges of the displaced window and window elements, and the window itself remains intact or does not release life-threatening or injurious projectiles. One embodiment of the invention (10) comprises a window frame (12) which holds a pane of glass or synthetic material such as acrylic or polycarbonate (14), the frame (12) being coupled to a window receiving pan or receptor (16) by a plurality of retainers (18). The overpressure from an explosive blast causes the frame (12) to be displaced primarily laterally from the receiving pan (16) thereby releasing the blast overpressure (20) to the edges of the displaced frame (12) and reducing the risk of release of shrapnel from said sheet of generally light transmissive material (14).

Abstract: Methods and liquified dietary supplements for enhancing and maintaining the health of birds are disclosed. The invention also includes dietary supplements which are intended to promote avian well-being by providing a daily regimen of two specifically designed formulas. The Healthy Bird.TM. Sunrise Formula is a morning supplement which furnishes quick energy, and maintains the natural acid base balance of the bird. The Healthy Bird.TM. Sunset Formula is an evening supplement which enables the bird to begin its rest cycle. Both preparations are novel compositions which furnish highly nutritional dietary regimens for domesticated birds.

Abstract: An Automatic Long-Life Infrared Emitter & Locator System which may be used to locate persons in need of assistance or marked objects is disclosed. Since the emitter (10) operates continuously and emanates infrared radiation (21) that can not be seen by the user, no affirmative action is required to activate the emitter (10). One of the preferred embodiments of the present invention (10) includes a flexible plastic or rubber housing (12) having an opening (15) that is specially shaped to fit over and to finly grasp a conventional electrical battery (16). A lens (18) residing on the top of the housing (12) passes invisible energy issuing from an infrared emitting diode (20) deployed beneath it. The diode (20) is connected to the battery (16) by leads (19) through a pulse control circuit (22). This circuit (22) produces intense and regular spikes of energy that cause the diode (20) to flash over a period of many weeks.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus which enable the lateral displacement of windows and window elements in reaction to overpressure forces resulting from an explosion are disclosed. According to the present invention, these forces are released to the edges of the displaced window and window elements, and the window itself remains intact or does not release life-threatening or injurious projectiles. One embodiment of the invention (10) comprises a window frame (12) which holds a pane of glass or synthetic material such as acrylic or polycarbonate (14), the frame (12) being coupled to a window receiving pan or receptor (16) by a plurality of retainers (18). The overpressure from an explosive blast causes the frame (12) to be displaced primarily laterally from the receiving pan (16) thereby releasing the blast overpressure (20) to the edges of the displaced frame (12) and reducing the risk of release of shrapnel from said sheet of generally light transmissive material (14).

Abstract: A Multi-Band Concentric Helical Antenna (20) operating in a novel conical mode, useful for general and satellite communications is disclosed. A higher frequency helix (24) is placed concentrically inside a lower frequency one (22). In one embodiment, each helix has four helical elements (22a-d, 24a-d). The outer helix is fed at a first frequency (f.sub.1) and the inner helix (24) is fed at a second frequency (f.sub.2). The second frequency (f.sub.2) may be greater than twice the first frequency (f.sub.1). Both helices (22, 24) have the same polarization. The pitch (P.sub.1, P.sub.2), diameter (D.sub.1, D.sub.2), and length (AL.sub.1, AL.sub.2) of the helices are chosen so that said antenna (20) radiates with approximately equal flux at all points in a far-field plane. Alternatively, two inner helices (24, 25) are placed concentrically within an outer helix (22).

Abstract: "Methods and apparatus for producing enhanced ultrasound images of portions of the human body while utilizing the beneficial effects of floatation are disclosed." Although the method is especially useful for generating images of the female breast, tissues of the male abdomen and testicles may also be imaged using the present invention. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a patient relaxes while substantially immersed in hot water. When the breast is submerged, the buoyancy of the breast tissue in the water counteracts the effects of gravity. The buoyancy of the water enhances the capacity of an ultrasound sensor which is also submerged to form an image of the body tissues which may be employed to detect abnormalities.

Abstract: A Cutting & Boring Tool which is capable of performing both conventional milling and high-precision automated machining operations is disclosed. One preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a compact Boring Mill (200) which includes five independently controlled and operated drive mechanisms: a spindle rotation motor (202) for rotating a spindle (208), a Z-axis spindle drive motor (204), a tool bit advance mechanism (206) which functions like a continuously variable transmission and which regulates the radial advance of a tool bit (211) and X-and-Y axis motors (218, 220), which provide motion along the side-to-side (X) and front-to-back axes (Z). A variety of tool bits (211) may be employed to drill, bore and form internal and external contours in a workpiece (212) made from metal, plastic or a composite material. The invention is extremely useful as part of an integrated CNC Machining System.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed which allow many satellites (A1-M, B1-N) in a plurality of Systems (A, B) to use the same radio frequencies (f1-n) so long as there is no interference between radio signals. The methods compute times (t) when satellite radio signals (32, 36) have overlapping reception areas or "footprints" (30, 35) on the Earth's surface (E) whereby a user's reception or transmission of a message would be interfered unless different frequencies (f1-n) are used for the "competing" signals. The methods use a timing algorithm that does not allow two satellites (Ai, Bi) which are "visible" at the same point on the Earth (E) to transmit on the same frequency (fi). In one preferred embodiment, a timing algorithm (48) produces a radio frequency use schedule (49) computed on the Earth from orbital data maintained in an ephemeris (46) of satellite communications systems (A, B) which communicate on frequencies (f1-n) giving rise to interfering radio signals.

Abstract: A fault tolerant computer system is disclosed which uses redundant voting at the hardware clock level to detect and to correct single event upsets (SEU) and other random failures. In one preferred embodiment, the computer (30) includes four or more commercial processing units (CPUs) (32) operating in strict "lock-step" and whose outputs (33, 37) to system memory (46) and system bus (12) are voted by a gate array (50) which may be implemented in a custom integrated circuit (34). A custom memory controller (18) interfaces to the system memory (46) and system bus (12). The data and address (35, 37) at each write to and read from memory (46) within the computer (30) are voted at each CPU clock cycle. A vote status and control circuit (38) "reads" the status of the vote and controls the state of the CPUs using hardware and software. The majority voted signals (35) are used by the agreeing CPUs 32 to continue processing operations without interruption.

Abstract: An examination of a portion of the body, such as a female breast, is conducted in the relaxing environment of floatation. When submerged, the buoyancy of the breast tissue counteracts the effects of gravity, and enhances the examiner's ability to detect abnormalities. While the breast is immersed in warm water, a constricted portion of the breast tissue is examined with the fingers. Forming this constricted three-dimensional projection of tissue is quite different from the generally flat or planar, circular rubbing motions advocated by more conventional methods of breast examination. Although the method is especially useful for conducting a self-examination of the female breast, tissues of the male abdomen and testicles may also be examined using the present invention.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transmitting documents using the Internet are disclosed. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a document (3200) which is to be transmitted to a recipient is fed into a local facsimile machine (3100). The document (3200) includes a cover sheet (3210) containing a destination facsimile number (5100) and number of sheets which contain the message to be transmitted to the destination. The sender then dials the local telephone number of a remote computer system (2000). The document (3200) is then transmitted to the remote computer (2000) via a modem (2400) over a local telephone line (7000). The remote computer (2000) then scans the cover sheet (3210) and extracts the destination facsimile number (5100). The document (3200) is then formatted for transmission via public switched data network, specifically Internet backbone network(s) (6000), and is routed from the remote computer system (2000) to a host network computer system (4000).

Abstract: A Computer Controlled Modular Power Supply for Precision Welding (10) that overcomes the problems encountered by previous power supplies is disclosed. A preferred embodiment of the invention includes an enclosure (100) which holds a Computer Control Module (400), a Welding Power Module (500) and an Electrical Power Module (600). These modules are removable, interchangeable and may be used in any combination. The Computer Control Module (400) includes a microprocessor (406) which is programmed using a color LCD display with a touch screen (300) mounted on one side of the enclosure. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an 80486 chip is used to run a Microsoft.TM. Windows.TM. Operating System and proprietary, user-friendly software developed by Creative Pathways, Inc. of Torrance, Calif. that controls welding operations. The Welding Power Module (500) includes four removable drawers (502) which each contain an individual power unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides an elegant automotive accessory which includes a fortified, rigid projection (23) capable of bearing a substantial load such as an integral extended ledge, surface, lever or lip on one portion of a license plate frame (12) mounted on a vehicle such as a car, van or truck. This fortified, rigid projection or surface (23) provides a safe, convenient handle that is especially designed to enable the user to open and to close a trunk deck lid (DL) of an automobile (A). Although the preferred embodiment (10F) of the present invention utilizes an integral load-bearing projecting surface (23F) formed into a license plate frame (12), alternative embodiments may employ separate handles (28) or knobs (40). These separate rigid and firmly-coupled projections that are not integrally formed with a license plate frame may be directly coupled or affixed to other portions of the door which it will be used to open and close.

Abstract: The present invention overcomes the limitations encountered by conventional packet switching using virtual circuits. The present invention utilizes a "datagram" approach that routes every packet (22) conveyed by the system independently at every node in the network. The packets (22) are directed along an optimized pathway through the network by a fast packet switch (38) that directs traffic based on instructions from an adaptive routing processor (12A) that continuously runs an adaptive routing software (12B). This adaptive routing processor (14) supplies an output (12C) to a routing cache memory (20) which stores fast packet switch routing port output tags (30). An input packet processor (28) extracts a supercell address from the header (24) of each packet (22) and uses the supercell address (21A) as an index to retrieve a fast packet switch output port tag (30) stored in the routing cache memory (20).

Abstract: A Method for Supplying Industrial Gases Using Integrated Bottle Controllers that overcomes the problems encountered by previous gas cabinet equipment is disclosed. The present invention comprises a compact and virtually explosion-proof controller (10) that is anchored securely to the top of a standard gas bottle (12). The entire system resides within a housing (11) that sits atop a conventional gas bottle (12) that would normally be enclosed within a gas cabinet (25) that may be sixty times the volume of the present invention. The controller (10) includes a housing (11) that has a top or lid (14), an upper cylinder (16), an annular wall (18) which forms a seal with the bottle (12). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, filled and cleaned bottles are connected to controllers at a fabrication clean area. The controllers are then operated remotely using a radio frequency or infra-red control. After the bottles are depleted, the controllers are removed and tested. The bottles are then refilled for reuse.

Abstract: The preferred embodiment of the present invention is a communications apparatus which includes a first transmitting antenna array (15A) having a transmitting antenna (16) which is dedicated to serves only a first sector (12). Similarly, a second transmitting antenna array (17A) having a transmitting antenna (18) is dedicated to serve only a second sector (14). Each of the transmitting antenna arrays (15A, 17A) have a beamwidth (19) of generally less than fifteen degrees. Both the first and the second transmitting antenna arrays (15A, 17A) emanate shaped beams which are alternately polarized to ensure the isolation of beams that serve adjacent sectors.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus which route, control and manage traffic throughout a Satellite Communication System operating in low Earth orbit are disclosed. Voice, video and data traffic from terrestrial gateways (G) and from portable (P), mobile (M) or fixed (F) terminals are directed up through the constellation of satellites (S) and back down to destinations on Earth. The satellites provide continuous worldwide communication services while insuring uniform end-to-end transmission delays. The satellite network is highly adaptive to the constantly changing network topology, and will offer a synchronous circuit switched communication service that provides sequential delivery of user data, regardless of the type of the data transmitted. The network employs datagram switching, as opposed to conventional virtual circuit switching techniques.

Abstract: The present invention solves the problems encountered by conventional machine tool devices when metals, plastics, composites or other materials are cut. The Sizing Tool is capable of precisely and permanently changing the shape of a tubular workpiece because, unlike conventional static spreaders, it repeatedly bends the workpiece back and forth many times to achieve the desired deformation. The Sizing Tool includes a set of revolving rollers (14) supported by bearings (13) and a mounting plate (12). The roller (14) is capable of engaging either the inside or outside surface of a hollow metal tube (10). The rollers (14) exert force on the end of the tube (10) having a circular cross-section in a configuration that resembles a polygon inscribed in a circle. As the rollers (14) are moved toward the workpiece (10), the workpiece is gradually deformed as it moves farther into the inclined surface presented by each roller (14).

Abstract: A satellite communications system is disclosed. One of the embodiments of the present invention includes six to fourteen satellites (12) which operate in a single Equatorial orbit (14). These satellites (12) are capable of providing communications services to locations on the Earth (E) which are within thirty degrees of the Equator (16). Another embodiment of the invention utilizes both the single Equatorial orbit plane (14) in combination with other satellites (12) moving in polar or inclined orbits (60, 63, 210). The embodiment that combines satellites (12) in Equatorial (14), polar (60) and inclined (63, 210) orbits will provide a wide variety of data services to virtually any point on the globe. In the preferred embodiments, the satellites (12) are designed to operate in a circular low Earth orbit at an altitude of from 800 to 1852 kilometers.

Abstract: One of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is a telecommunications system that includes twelve satellites (S) which are equally deployed in four polar low Earth orbits (OR). A preferred embodiment provides a system for transmitting a message between two terminals (G) on the ground through a store-and-forward network. A first satellite (S1/OR1) traveling in a first polar orbit (OR1) receives and stores a message from a sending terminal (GA) on the surface of the Earth (E). As the first satellite (S1/OR1) passes over the North Pole (NP), it transmits the stored message from the sending terminal (GA) down to a relay station (GB) located near the North Pole (NP). The message is stored at this polar relay station (GB) until a second satellite (S1/OR2) moving in a second orbit (OR2) flies within range.